Mold carrier



Nov. 5, 1929. F. E. MCCABE 1,734,175

MDLD CARRIER Original Filed Sept. 19. 1925 4 Sheets-:Sheet 1 0w. M MJ/{m Nov. 5, 1929.

F. MccABE 1,734,175

Mow CARRIER Original Filed Sept. 19. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma-Mm EL QQJi 3w, M MM flfl/L' F. E. M CABE MOLD CARRIER Nov. 5, 1929.

Original Filed Sept. 19. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l l I I lllllllllf ll lll|| 1 I Nov. 5, 1929. F. E. M CABE 3 MOLD CARRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed. Sept. 19, 1925 fawn/ax 3M gwsQ -i'w ,5] 0441. M MM Jim .Patented Nov. 5, 1929.

E. HCCABE, OF CHAGBIH FALLS, OHIO,

FRANK FAC'IUBING COMPANY, OF

original application med September 19, 1825,

CLEVELAND, 0mg,

morn on OFFICE- ASSIGHOB TO THE GRABLEB MANU- A CQBPOBATION OF OHIOSerial No. 57,833. Divided and this application filed Karel:

as, 1927. Serial no. rzaasa This invention relates to a mold carrierthat is especially suitable for use in molding systems of the class towhich m former application Serial No. 57,333, file Se tember 19, 1925,relates; the present case emg a division of said application.

"The system to which reference is made involves a mold forming station,a pourin station, a shake-out station, and an overhea plate may trackwhich extends past all said stations and, for reasons peculiar to thesystem, the track branches and passes on opposite sides of the pouringstation. is arrangement requires that the carriers which transport themolds pastthe various stations be capable or turning so that the moldssustained thereby may be brought in proper relation to the oppositesides of the pouring station and thereafter faced in the same directionpreparator to delivery to the shake-out station. The 0 jects of theinvention are to provide a very substantial and relatively simple molcarrier for use in systems of the aforesaid class that is especiallyconvenient of handling and by means of which a stack of molds may begasily transported through the variout stations; to provide aconstruction wherein the mold sustaining part of the carrier isrotatable with respect to its supporting structure; to provide latchmechanism that is simple, dependable and easily operated for maintainingthe rotatably suspended structure in given positions with relation tothe supporting structure; to provide a mold carrier that will readilynegotiate relatively sharp curves in a track; to provide in a moldcarrier a flask support or platform that is designed to so cooperatewith the flasks that their correct position upon the platform is insuredwithout special care on the part of the operator; and to provide meansfor properly spacing from each other adjacent carriers upon the track.

A further object is to platform of the carrier with a that in case themolten metal poured into the molds welds to the plate, the

be removed and a fresh one substituted so that the carrier is not thustemprovide the mold middle portion of removable porarlly put out ofcommission and the normal operation of the system disturbed.

These and other objects which will appear as 'thls descrlption proceedsare attained in the embodlment of the invention illustrated m theaccompanying drawings wherein Fig. 115 a front elevation, and Fig. 2 aside elevation, of my improved mold carrier; Fi 3 is a sectional plan onthe lines 3-3 of igs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections onthe line 0-1; of Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 4: being taken as though looking inthe direction of the varrows 4, 4, and Fig. 5, as though lookmg in thedirection of the arrows 5, 5; and lflgs. 6, 7 and 8 are a plan view, aside elevatlon, and an end elevation, respectively, of the mold flaskthat is designed for use with the carrier.

The overhead track on which the carriers travel is preferably in thenature of an I- beam, and the same is designated A in Figs. 1 and 2. Thecarrier comprises a beam 1 that is suspended, through swivel bolts 2,from trolleys 3 that ride upon the bottom flanges a of the I-beamwhereof the track A is composed. These trolleys are of standardconstruction and swing easily with respect to the beam 1 so that innegotiating curves and passing through switches, no difliculty isexperienced. At its opposite ends, the beam 1 is formed with bumpers 5which are adapted to engage the like parts of adjacent carriers and thuslimit the distance within which one carrier may approach another.Supported by and between ears 6 that depend from the the beam 1 is abolt 7 that is engaged through the eye 8 of a king bolt 9 on which isswiveled a head 10. Counterbalancing weights 11 are applied to one endof the head 10, while the opposite end of the head is formed forapplication to a tubular column 12, the column being clamped between thehead and a cap 13 that is applied thereto and secured in place by screws14 The arts are relatively positioned by a bolt 15 w ich passes throughregistering apertures in the head, column and cap.

Similarly connected to the lower end of the column 12 is a mold or flasksupport or platform 16, the cap, screws and positioning bolt associatedwith said support being designated, respectively, by the referencenumerals 17, 18 and 19. The support 16 is, generally, in the nature of aflat shelf, and at its ends has guides 20 for properly positioning theflask thereon, aswill more clearly appear hereinafter. It will beobserved from Fig. 2 that'walls 21 of said guides depend a materialdistance below the top plane of the support, and spaced from the walls21, that are located ad acent the rear side of the support, are stoplugs 22 which extend beyond and are substantially in line with the rearedge of the support. Rising from the rear corners of the support areguides 23 which have their upper ends curved rearwardly, said guidesassisting in properly positioning the flask with respect to the supportas it IS lowered thereon. A guide strip 24 is applied to the front sideof the column 12 and extends from a point somewhat below the upper endsof the guides 23 to. an elevation equal to or somewhat above the levelof the topmost flask of the stack of molds that is adapted to besupported by the carrier.

As previously mentioned, it is necessary at certain stages in theoperation of the system to turn the molds, and this is accomplished byvirtue of the rotatable connection between the supported and supportingportions of the carrier that is effected through the king bolt 9, and itmay be explained that the angle of rotation between said portionsrequired to meet the needs of the system is substantially 180. Latchmechanism which I shall now describe is employed for properly locatingand holding the mold sustaining part of the carrier in its two extremepositions.

Above the head 10, the column 12 has a kerf, and a latch bar 25 ispivotally supported therein upon a pin 26. To the outer end of the latchbar is articulated, as at 27, the upper end of the latch rod 28 which isguided near its lower end through an eye 29, carried by the column. Therod terminates at its lower end in a ring or handle 30 by means of whichit may be elevated. The weight of the rod normally maintains the latchbar 25 in the osition shown in Fig. 2. The inner end of t e latch barcooperates with a latch ring or element 31 that is shown secured, as byrivets 32, to cars 33 that are formed on the beam 1. At diametricallyopposite points the latch ring is provided with notches 34 for thereception of the inner end of the latch bar; and to facilitate theregistering of the latch bar with the notches the ring is provided withstop lugs 35 that are engaged by the bar when the same is in line withthe notches. These stop lugs limit the rotation of the suspendedstructure precisely to a movement of 180, and the operator is thusrelieved of having to pay attention to the positioning of the parts.

A flask especially designed for use with the carrier is illustrated inFigs. 6, 7 and 8 and thesame comprises a rectangular frame 40 which isstiffened along each side by top and bottom flanges 41 and 42 thatare.conne,cted together intermediate their ends by a web 43. Thiseffects .a sort of tubular formation for the longer sides of the flaskwhich, While'be ing light, is very strong. The end walls of the frameare strengthened by flanges 45 which divide at their centers into topand bottom branches 46 and 47, respectively, the former being providedwith dowel pins 48 and the latter with openings 49 that are arranged toreceive the dowel pins of the flask therebelow when the flasks arestacked one upon another. In placing the flasks upon the support orplatform 16, the bottom one is properly positioned longitudinally of thesupport by means of the upwardly diverging walls 20 of the guides 20that are located at the opposite ends of the support, and in afore-and-aft direction by the engagement of its rear side with theguides 23. The flasks thereabove are aligned by means of their dowelpins'48, and registry of the dowel pins of one flask with the socket ofthe one above is enhanced by the guide strip 24, the flasks, when beingplaced in position, being engaged with said strip and then lowered ontothe pins of the flask below. The previously mentioned stop lugs 22 andWalls 21 serve as 10- cating means for the pick-up yoke of the shake-outapparatus that constitutes a part of my molding system, as will be seenby reference to my above mentioned application.

7 It sometimes happens that the molten metal that is poured into themolds, and finds access through the sprue to the mold support, I

welds to the support and causes considerable difiiculty in removing thecastings and flasks. This is especiall serious when it occurs in theequipment 0 a molding system as it disturbs to some extent the operationof the whole system. I meet this situation in connection with my moldcarrier by constructing the platform or support 13 with a removable faceplate 16, the same being shown as set within a recess or rabbet 16 ofthe frame like structure of the platform and as having it top surfaceflush with the corresponding surface of said structure. Upon occurrenceof the above difficulty, the face plate is re- -moved with the flasksand castings and ansuspended structure to swing freely with respect tothe supporting structure, relieving the parts of any strains which wouldotherwise be imposed upon them and insuring easy operation of thetrolleys along the track.

1 bet een When the suspended strutture swingsgenerally in'the plane ofthe latch bolt 25, said bolt rocks on lts pivot; and the notches 34 inthe latch ring 31 are sufiiciently wide to revent clamping or twistingof the latch olt when the structure swings generally in a direction atright angles to the aforesaid plane. This loose connection between thehead 10 and beam 1 has a further important advantage in that itfunctions as a shock absorber the beam and the suspended molds when,through carelessness or accident, adjacent carriers are allowed tocollide with considerable force, it being remembered that the beams ofadjoining carriers are free to engage each other through their rigidbumpers 5. If the full force of the shock or ar resulting from suchimpact were transmitted to the molds, it would damage the mold cavities.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A mold carrierfor use in a molding system involving atrack, said carrier comprising atrolley movable along the track, a mold support rotatably sustained bythe trolley, and latch mechanism for locking said support in differentpositions with respect to the trolley.

2. In a mold system involving an overhead track, a trolley on saidtrack, a member sustained by the trolley, a mold support rotatablysuspended from said member, and latch mechanism for locking the supportin different positions with respect to the member.

3. In a mold carrier for use in a molding system involving an overheadtrack, a trolley structure on'said track, a king bolt depending fromsaid structure, a head swiveled on said bolt, a column depending fromthe head, and a mold support attached to the lower end of the column.

4. In a mold carrier for use in a. molding system involving an overheadtrack, a trolley structure on said track, a king bolt depending fromsaid structure, a head swiveled on said bolt, a weight applied to oneend of the head, a column depending from the opposite end of the head,and a mold support attached to the lower end of the column.

5. In a moldcarrier for use in a molding system involving an overheadtrack, a trolley structure on said track, aking bolt depending from saidstructure, a head swiveled on said king bolt, a column depending fromthe head, a'mold support carried by the lower end of the column, a latchelement supported by the trolley structure, and a second latch elementsupported adjacent the head, said latch elements cooperating to hold thehead and the parts supported thereby in given angular positions withrespect to the trolley structure.

6. In a mold carrier for use in a molding carrier for use in a moldingsystem involving an overhead track, a trolley structure on said track, aking bolt depending from said structure, a head swiveled on said kingbolt, a column depending from the head, a-mold support carried by thelower end of the column, a latchelement supported. by the trolleystructure, a second latch element supported adjacent the head, saidlatch elements cooperating to hold the head and the parts supportedthereby in given angular positions with respect to the trolleystructure, and means extending downwardly alongside the column foractuating the latch comprised of the aforesaid latch elements.

7. In a mold carrier ,for use in a molding system involving an overheadtrack, trolleys supported by and spaced apart along said track, a beamto which said trolleys are swiveled, a king bolt depending from saidbeam, a head swiveled on said bolt, a column secured to and dependinfrom the head, a mold support carried by t e lower end of the column, alatch member secured to the aforesaid beam, said member having notches,a'

latch bolt movably carried by the upper end of the column and arrangedto enter the notches of the latch member when brought into registertherewith, and an operating means connected to the latch bolt.

8. In a mold carrier for use in a molding system involving an overheadtrack, trolleys supported by and spaced apart along said track, a beamto which said trolleys are swiveled, said beam being provided with abumper ateach end projecting beyond the adjacent trolley, aking boltdepending from said beam, a head swiveled on said bolt, a column.

secured to and depending from the head, a mold support carried by thelower end of the column, a latch ring secured to the aforesaid beam andwhich is substantially concentric with the king bolt, said ring havingsubstantially diametrically opposed notches, stops adjacent saidnotches, a latch bolt pivotally carried by the upper end of the column,one end of which is arranged to enter the notches of the latch ring whenbrought into register therewith, and an operating rod connected to anddepending from the opposite end of the latch bolt.

9. A mold carrier for use in a molding system involving a track, saidcarrier comprising a trolley movable along the track, a mold supportswingably and rotatably suspended from the trolley, and latch mechanismfor holding the support in different orientated positions with respectto the trolley.

10. A mold carrier for use in a molding system, involving a track, saidcarrier comprising a trolley structure movable along the track, moldsupport-in means swingably and yieldable with respect to each other toallow for relative swinging movement between the mold supporting meansand the trolley structure.

11. In a mold carrier for use in a moldin system involving an overheadtrack, a tro ley structure on said track, a king bolt having an eye thatis loosely engaged about a part carried by the trolley structure, andmold supportin means swiveled on said bolt.

12. In oundry apparatus, a track, a'mold carrier mounted on said track,a mold sup rt pivotally mounted on said carrier, an an inter-lockingmeans associated with said carrier and said support for securing saidsupport in different positions relative to said carrier whereby theposition of the sup ort relative to the carrier may be adjusts vtocorrespond with the position of the carrier on the track.

13. In foundry apparatus a mold carrier system comprising a track,separate carriers mounted on said track, means comprising bumpers forspacing said carriers on said track, and compensatin means for avoidingshock or damage to mol s when said bumpers collide.

14. In foundry apparatus a mold carrier system comprising a track, aplurality of individual carriers mounted on said track, bumpers on saidcarriers, mold supports carried by said carriers, and a flexiblemounting between said supports and said carriers whereby the .sup ortsmay move freely and avoid shock or amage to the molds when movement ofthe carrier along the track causes the bumpers of adjacent carriers tocollide with each other.

15. In foundry apparatus a mold carrier system comprising a track,trolleys mounted on said trac mold supports suspended from saidtrolleys, bum ers on said trolleys, and a universal joint etween saidsupport and said trolley whereby the support may swing freely whenbumpers collide and avoid damage to the molds.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK E. McC ABE.

